Virginia tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are facing huge problems due to the inconsistent policies of the Government. Tobacco auctions in Andhra Pradesh have been badly affected on account of this, said G. Seshagiri Rao, Vice-Chairman of the Tobacco Board here. Rao is also the Vice-President of the Federation of All-India Farmers' Associations.
In a memorandum submitted to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said the recent decision of the Centre on pictorial warnings on tobacco products had led to stoppage of production by cigarette factories and affected auctions in Andhra Pradesh.
He said a parliamentary committee had recommended only 50 per cent graphical health warning but the Government had imposed 85 per cent. Punitive taxation and such stringent measures were killing the industry and affecting farmers. He wanted the Centre to take all stakeholders into confidence before taking such decisions.
Seshagiri Rao said if the Government wanted to phase out tobacco it should first identify sustainable alternatives to the crop in a time-bound programme. In the transition period, farmers should be helped to make the switch-over to alternative crops.
He urged the Chief Minister to take up the issue with the Centre and help the farmers in the State.